Protective cap for diver{40 s air tank

ABSTRACT

A protective lower end cap for a diver&#39;&#39;s compressed air tank, which acts as a secure base to stand the tank upright. The interior of the protector has a ribbed wall which grips the circumference of the tank firmly but with minimum contact area, the ribs allowing water to pass through freely, so that the protector can remain on the tank at all times. A multi-armed open base portion supports the lower end of the tank clear of the surface in which the tank stands. The exterior of the protector is smooth, without protuberances, and will not cause injury to the diver.

United States Patent [191 Good et al. May 7, 1974 [5 PROTECTIVE CAP FOR DIVER'S AIR TANK 2,847,144 8/1958 Cornelius 220/69 [76] Inventors: Richard R. Good, 3142 Larga Ct., FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Dlego, l 92110; 597,642 9/1959 Italy 215/12 R Uke, K-l4 Mu1r Apt., San D1ego,

Cahf' 92422 Primary ExaminerEdward C. Allen 22 il J 14,1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brown & Martin 21 A l. N 262 482 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT A protective lower end cap for a divers compressed (51. r air tank which acts as a Secure base to stand the tank [58] Fieid 350 346 1 upright. The interior of the protector has a ribbed wall 9 'T 'Z' 127' 220/85 K f which grips the circumference of the tank firmly but v 7 21 5/12 with minimum contact area, the ribs allowing water to 1 pass through freely, so that the protector can remain the tank at all times. A multi-armed open base por- [56] 1 References C1ted 1 tion supports the lower end of the tank clear of the UNITED STATES PATENTS surface in which the tank stands. The exterior of the 3,257,023 6/1966 Jolly 223/125: protector is smooth, without protuberances, and will 1,985,55 12/1934 Alexander 2 9 t t th 3,543,921 4/1969 Bradley 220/69 no cause m'iury 0 e Iver l,282,484 10/]918 Steinmetz, 220/85 K 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures '8 4 2 2 4 IO l6 -34 will llll I as all 42 26 1 Lil PATENTEUHAY 7 1924 Fig.4

Fig.3

PROTECTIVE CAP FOR DIVERS AIR TANK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Divers compressed air tanks are often subjected to rough treatment, particularly by abrasion on sand, rocks and the like. Various protective finishes are used but do not provide complete protection. Any scratches penetrating the metal of the tank are subject to corrosion which, due to the high pressure normally contained in the tank, can be very dangerous. Protective caps have been used on tanks, usually of plastic material and fitting tightly on the tank, so that removal is difficult. With a closed, tight fitting cap, trapped water is a problem. Caps have'been made with feet which enable the tank to stand upright, but such projections can injure the diver in some circumstances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The tank protector-described herein fits tightly on the end of a tank in the form of a cap, but is designed to facilitate removal when necessary and to allow free passage of water. The circumferential wall of the protector has longitudinal ribs which grip the tank with a minimum of actual contact area, the spaces between the ribs forming water channels. A wide fiat base on the protector provides a stable support for the tank in upright position, without the need for projecting feet. The lower end of the tank is supported clear of the ground by a central platform supported on radial arms, smoothly filletted at all joints for strength, the open structure avoiding the possibility of trapped water.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved protective cap for a divers air tank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved air tank protector in the form of a cylindrical cap with internal ribs to grip the tank.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved air tank protective cap having a flat supporting base with a central tank engaging platform.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved air tank protective cap in which the ribs and the open base allow free passage of water.

Other objects and many advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description together with an examination of the drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the protective cap mounted on a typical air tank.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the protector.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The protector is a generally cylindrical cap which fits on the lower end of an air tank 12. For resistance to water and wear, the protector is a unitary molded structure of resilient plastic material, such as polyethylene or the like, which will conform to minor variations in the tank size. Air tanks are usually of a standard diexact configuration may vary, but the protector is adaptable to most tanks presently available.

The protector has a substantially cylindrical body 14 with a smooth outer wall surface 16 and a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 18 on the inner surface. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the ribs are of triangular cross section with thin inner edges 20 and flat bottomed channels 22 therebetween. The resilience of the mate rial allows the ribs to deform slightly and the body to stretch to fit tightly on the tank. However, the thin edges of the ribs minimize the actual contact area with the tank and facilitate removal of the protector when necessary.

The lower rim 24 of body 14 is planar to provide a flat supporting base of the full diameter of the body for stability. Rim 24 has an inwardly projecting peripheral flange 25 for strength. In the center of the lower end of the body is a platform 26, supported on radial arms 28. The arms are preferably of inverted T shape for rigidity and have reinforcing fillets 30 at their junctions with platform 26. At the outer ends the arms have post portions 32 and 34 extending up the inside of the body and reinforced by fillets 36. Posts 32 have concave edges 33 curving downwardly toward the platform, while posts 34 are short generally vertical elements. The lower surfaces of arms 28 have small fillets 38 blending into flange 25, so that all joints are well reinforced.

In FIG. 3, it will be noted that arms 28 are upwardly inclined toward the center, so that platform 26 is elevated above the ground contacting plane of rim 24. This ensures a more stable base support and keeps the tank clear of the ground. The upright ribs 40 of arms 28 extend slightly over the top of platform 26, and at the center of the platform is a raised button 42 substantially level with the ribs. Thus the tank rests on the button 42 and the tips of ribs 40, again minimizing contact area. Depending on the exact contour of the tank end, the tank may also rest on curved edges 33 of post portions 32 and 34.

On land, the protector provides a stable base to hold the tank upright and clear of contact with any damaging surface. In the water the protector is unobtrusive and the smooth outer surface causes no discomfort to the diver. The channels 22 and the open base structure provide for free passage of water and offer no pockets to trap water when returning to land. The protector can thus be left on the tank in storage or in use.

Having described our invention, we now claim:

1. A protective cap made of resilient plastic material for attachment to the lower end of a divers compressed air tank, which cap can remain on the tank in storage or in use in the water, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body having a wall with a lengthsubstantially less than the length of the tank and longitudinally extending internal ribs projecting inwardly from said wall for engagement with and gripping the side of the tank, with water conducting channels between the ribs that are open at each end to allow water to flow directly therethrough,

said channels having a depth about equal to the thickness of said wall,

, the bottom end of said body having a planar ground engaging circular rim,

9. central platform in said bottom end of said body for contacting and supporting the tank with supporting arms extending directly from said platform to said rim,

said arms having open spaces therebetween communicating with said channels for letting water flow through said body and out the bottom end thereof,

and said arms extending upwardly in a radially inward direction to support the lower end of said tank at a spaced distance above said rim,

2. A protective cap according to claim 1, wherein said ribs have a substantially triangular cross section with thin inner edges that are able to conform to the outer wall surface of the tank in said gripping and engagement with the wall of the tank.

3. A protective cap according to claim 1 wherein said platform has a raised tank engaging button at the center thereof.

4. A protective cap according to claim 3, wherein certain of said arms have upwardly extending post portions with concave tank engaging upper edges.

5. A protective cap according to claim 4, wherein said arms have rib portions extending radially inwardly onto the upper surface of said platform and terminate a spaced distance from said button.

6. A protective cap according to claim 5, wherein said raised button is substantially level with the tops of said rib portions.

7. A protective cap according to claim 6, wherein certain of said arms have upwardly extending post portions with the concave tank engaging upper edges integral with said rib portions.

8. A protective cap according to claim 7, wherein the structure is a unitary molding of resilient plastic material. 

1. A protective cap made of resilient plastic material for attachment to the lower end of a diver''s compressed air tank, which cap can remain on the tank in storage or in use in the water, comprising: a substantially cylindrical body having a wall with a length substantially less than the length of the tank and longitudinally extending internal ribs projecting inwardly from said wall for engagement with and gripping the side of the tank, with water conducting channels between the ribs that are open at each end to allow water to flow directly therethrough, said channels having a depth about equal to the thickness of said wall, the bottom end of said body having a planar ground engaging circular rim, a central platform in said bottom end of said body for contacting and supporting the tank with supporting arms extending directly from said platform to said rim, said arms having open spaces therebetween communicating with said channels for letting water flow through said body and out the bottom end thereof, and said arms extending upwardly in a radially inwArd direction to support the lower end of said tank at a spaced distance above said rim,
 2. A protective cap according to claim 1, wherein said ribs have a substantially triangular cross section with thin inner edges that are able to conform to the outer wall surface of the tank in said gripping and engagement with the wall of the tank.
 3. A protective cap according to claim 1 wherein said platform has a raised tank engaging button at the center thereof.
 4. A protective cap according to claim 3, wherein certain of said arms have upwardly extending post portions with concave tank engaging upper edges.
 5. A protective cap according to claim 4, wherein said arms have rib portions extending radially inwardly onto the upper surface of said platform and terminate a spaced distance from said button.
 6. A protective cap according to claim 5, wherein said raised button is substantially level with the tops of said rib portions.
 7. A protective cap according to claim 6, wherein certain of said arms have upwardly extending post portions with the concave tank engaging upper edges integral with said rib portions.
 8. A protective cap according to claim 7, wherein the structure is a unitary molding of resilient plastic material. 